Process of making ammonia or other nitrogen-hydrogen binary compounds.



H. S. BLAGKMORE.

PROCESS OF MAKING AMMONIA OR OTHER NITROGEN-HYDROGEN BINARY COMPOUNDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25,4909.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

grwenlioz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

.HENRY SPENCER BLACKMORE, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT E. ROBINSON AND DANIEL G. SPRUANCE, TRUSTEES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF MAKING AMMONIA OR OTHER NITROGEN-HYDROGEN BINARY COMPOUNDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Original application filed November 23, 1908, Serial No. 463,980. Divided and this application filed March 25, 1909. Serial No. 485,829. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SPENCER B LAoKMoRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of V-Vestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making Ammonia or other Nitrogen- Hydrogen Binary Compounds, of which the following isa specification.

The object this invention-is to produce ammonia or 01: er binary compounds of hydrogen and nitrogen and consists in unitingor combining nitrogen with hydrogen, or substances contalnlng the same, 1n a yieldlng .state, by the action of a form of energy by.

friction, attrition, or agitation of, or with, substances, such as mercury, communicating therewith and preferably a substance like mercury capable of amalgamatingwith ammonium, thereby augmenting the process of combination by its natural afiinity for ammonium and facilitating the unionof nitrogen with hydrogen, or substances containing the same, by its contact action therewith, and further facilitating the union by assimilating or associating the mercury ,with-calv cium, palladium, etc., ,or similar metal having a natural aflinity for hydrogen, thereby acting as an intermediary or carrier of hydrogen to the'energized nitrogen, being a division of an application filed Nov. 23, 1908, Serial-No. 463,980.

In carrying out my invention for the production of ammonia I provide a receptacle containing mercury and sub ect it to rapld agitation by shaking or otherwise moving the same, .or the mercury. therein, and then introducing into or through the agitated mercury nitrogen and hydrogen, whereby the nitrogen is caused to combine or unite with the hydrogen in the presence of the mercury forming the ammonia (NH some of which, together with a portion of the hydrogen, unites with the mercury produc nitrogen and hydrogen, this result is also attained.

It can be seen that the formation of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen can be continuously performed by passing a current of nitrogen and hydrogen through the agitated mercury, preferably heated, and

the ammonia thus formed, collected or re-' covered by passing the resultant gaseous tated in any convenient manner.

, I find it of advantage to employ mercury.

containing calcium, the latter of which assists or facilitates the union of nitrogen and hydrogen by absorbing the hydrogen atordinary temperatures, transiently forming intermediately, so-called, calcium hydrid,

which is broken up into ammonia by action.

of the nitrogen, which with hydrogen forming ammonium amalgam. Particles of metallic calcium, or. so-called calcium hydrid, may be employed instead of or without mercury, but find the' presence of mercury greatly advantageous, as it facilitates the action of the calcium or similar contact substance at ordinary temperatures and. also prevents the action of calcium on the lining orwalls of the container, especially if it be of glass or enamel. Exposing nitrogen and hydrogen to the action of agitated combin-- ing agents while under pressure also increases the yield of ammonia and is a preferred way of introducing the gases.

Many other substances than mercury may be employed to induce the combination of nitrogen and hydrogen by agitation, attrition, or friction, such as sharp sand or silica, in which case it is preferable to heat the nitrogen and hydrogen and produce a sand blast by action of said heated gases under pressure; upon the subsidence of said hot blast, the gases to a large degree will be found to have combined, forming ammonia,

which can be absorbed, collected, or recovered in any convenient manner. I find it, however, of advantage to employ contact, agitating or frictiqnal substances which have a natural aiiinity for ammonium at low temperature and from which it can be readily liberated by simply elevating the temperature, such as mercury, or mercury by the rapid completing and breaking of the.

electric current circuit throughout the mass during, a itation, which means is preferably employef for the additional feature of heating the mercury for liberating any ammonia which may, with hydrogen, have formed an amalgam during the progress of the process. Instead of agitating the mercury or other combining agent mechanically, it can be agitated by forcing a rapid stream of nitrogen and hydrogen, or other fluid or solid, through or in contact with the same.

In the accompanying drawin s, I have illustrated an apparatus especial y adapted for carrying out my new and improved process, and in which:

Fi re 1, is approximately -a vertical,longitu inal section; Fig. 2, a transverse sec tion on line 22 of Fi 1; Fig. 3', a similar section on line 3-3 0 Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, a horizontal, longitudinal section on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the sevral views,'the numeral 1 indicates a rotatable rectangular vessel or receptacle, having one of its ends provided with a circular chamber 2, the

. axial center of which is at one of the corn'ers of said vessel, where it is provided with a hollow journal arm 3, communicating with said chamber,- and the other end of the vessel is provided, at the corner diagonally opposite the arm 3, with a similar journal arm 4, in communication with said vessel, the vessel being journaled in suitable standards or supports 5, 5. The outer end of the journal arm 3 is closed by a stuffing-box 6, and passing through an insulating section 7 in said stufling-box and a similar section 8, in the partition 9, between the vessel and the chamber 2,.is an inlet-pipe 10, terminating at its outer end in branches 11 and 12, each branch being provided with a regulating valve 13, the inner end of the inlet-pipe 10, within the vessel, terminates in a coil 14, closed at the end and provided with a plurality of small perforated projections 15, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. Also passing through the stuflingbox 3, is a discharge-pipe 16, having its outer end provided with a valve 17, and its inner end terminating in a vertical extension 18, withinthe chamber 2. The inlet:

pipe is provided with a pipe 19, carrying a pressure gage 30, to indicate the pressure, said pipe 19 being provided with a valve 21, and the inlet-pipe is provided with a check-. valve 22, to prevent back pressure.

The outer end of the journal-arm 4, is closed by a stuffing -box 23, and passing through an insulatlng section 24, in said stufling-box are inlet and outlet-pipes 25 and 26, respectively, of a heating or cooling coil.

27, situated within the vessel. The inletpipe 27 is provided with a valve 28, and the outlet-pipe with a valve 29. The journal- 'arm 4, is provided with a gear-wheel 30,

which mesheswith a pinion 31, mounted on a drive-shaft 32, by means of which the vessel is rotated.

,.- The vessel is provided with a charginghole 33,- closed by a cap 34, which is secured firmly in place by. a. screw 35, and is fluid tight by means ofa gasket 36. The vessel is also provided with a discharge-pipe 38, controlled by a valve 39, and an orifice 40, .in the partition 9, aifords communication between the vessel and the chamber 2. The

chamber '2, is provided with a valve-con: trolled discharge-pipe 41.

The inlet-pipe 10, is connected by a wire 42, with the positive ole of a suitable electrical source of supp y, (not shown), and

the inlet and'discharge-pipes 25 and 26, are

connected by wires 43 and 44, respectively, with the other or negative pole of said electrical source of sup 1y, each pipe having its inner section s'uitali outer section, as indicated at a, b, c.

As a concrete example of this process and the manner inwhich it is carried out in com-.

.bination with the apparatus above described, the formation of ammonia from free nitroly insulated from the gen and hydrogen, through the initiation of I mercury or quicksilver will be taken. Mercury is introduced into the vessel 1, through the opening 33, until. it reaches approximately a level communicating with the reticulated pipe 27, at which time the opening is closed. The coil 27, is brought into electrical communication with one terminal of a generator, or other source of supply, not

14, is brought into communication with the opposite terminal of said supply. A refrigerating fluid isthen caused to circulate through the coil 27, by opening valves 28 and 29, for the purpose of refrigerating and maintaining the mercury, communicating therewith, at a temperature approximately sixty degrees F., or below, i. e., at or below ordinary atmospheric temperature. Nitrogen gas is then supplied through pipe 11, and hydrogen gas through pipe 12, by opening the respective valves 13, said valves being so adjusted, with, reference to the gas shown and the perforated, reticulated coil coil 27, by blowing the same out, and said .coil is then caused to communicate with a pressures, that a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen, in proportion approximately one of the former to four of the latter, by volume, is caused to be forced through the check-valve 22, into the vessel 1, through the perforations 15, at a pressure approximately fifty pounds, which pressure is ascertained by the gage 21. p

As the mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen is introduced into vessel 1, the said vessel is caused to revolve rapidly by means of the gearing, thereby causing the mercury therein to be rapidly tumbled, oscillated, and'agitated in contact or in communication with the mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen, in such a manner that the frictional or attritional effect thereof causes the nitrogen and hydrogen to combine, and in the presence of an excess of hydrogen, to temporarily unite with the mercury, producing so-called ammonium amalgam; the combfningof the nitrogen and hydrogen, in the presence of mercury, beingaugmented by the action of electricity passing between the coils 27 and 14, in a rapidly interrupted manner, by the action of the falling, dashing, or agitated particles of mercury assing through or between the fixed coils in the revolving, vessel 1. The mixture of nitrogen and 'hydr en is continually and gradually forced in the revolving vessel in order to maintaina :pressure therein of app-roximately'sixty pounds, in order to compensate for the condensation and absorption occurring in said vessel during the formation of ammoniacal substances, and absorption or union of'the same with or by the mercury. The nitrogen and hydrogen is supplied to the apparatus in this man.- ner for about three hours, when it is cut off by closing the respective valves 13'. The refrigerat-ing fluid is then discharged from the steam-supply,not shown, the" heat of which elevates the temperature of the ammonium. amalgam, and causes it to decompose or dissociate, liberating ammonia-gas and, free hydrogen, which escapes throughtheopening 40, into the chamber 2, from which it is discharged through the pipeor duct 18 and 16, on opening the valve 17, and from thence conveyed to a suitable reservoir, or absorbing or combining chamber, not shown, and after the separationof the ammonia from the associated hydrogen, the said hydrogen may be recovered in any convenient manner for future use. After exposing the substances in vessel 1, to the action of heat and electricit during this second, stage o-f'the process or about one hour, thellarger por tion of the available ammonia willbefound to have been discharged, at which time the valve 17 is closed, the steam discharged from coil 27, the revolution of the apparatus cooled by again passing the refrigerating fluid through coil 27. When the temperature of the mercury in vessel '1 has been reduced, by thus cooling, to a temperature approximately sixty degrees F., or below,.more nitrogen. and hydrogen is introduced by opening valves 13, the vessel '1 revolved and the process continued as before.

It is found advantageous to add to, or amalgamate with the mercury certain substances of so-called'contact .or catalytic nature, capable of facilitating the union of nitrogen and hydrogen ,toform orproduce ammonia, or transiently ammonium amalgam, such as calcium. By 'liquefying metal, such as calcium, at ordinary temperatures, having in a heated state an aflinity for nitrogen and hydrogen, or both, by the action of fluid solvents or liquefying agents, such as mercury, the aflinity of said metal for nitrogen, hydrogen, or both, is induced, underv ordinary atmospheric conditions of temperature, without the ecessity of heating the same, furthermore,

substance acts as a-so-called catalytic or con tact agent in the formation of ammonia from free nitrogen and hydrogen in the presence of an agent of solvent combining or assimilating nature,such as mercury, with which it forms an amalgam, together with hydrogen, and from-which it can be finally eliminated by dissociation or decomposing the amalgam byt-he action of heat.

Such metals as calcium having an aflinity, in a heated state, for nitrogen, hydrogen, or both, when liquefied by the action ofother substances, at ordinary temperatures, and especially-when associated with substances capable of uniting with compounds of nitrogen and hydrogen, such as mercury, in they formation of mercury amalgam, are found to act with superior avidity in the fixation of nitrogen and hydrogen, and formation of compounds or composltions thereof without the assistance of heat from an extraneous or "other source than is attained or obtained by the employment of such substances per se in i a heated state.

In subjecting the substances employed in theformationof ammonia to the'action of electricity, I do not desire to confine myself loo to any particular ,form or character of elec-.

tricity, but intend to include any and all character or forms which may be selectively adaptable to any particular case, or the production of any particular product, be it a frictional, ulsating, alternating, polyphase, of high 'or ow tension, or otherwise. Neither do I desire to confine myself to the formation of ammonia, .but intend to include and do include the a plication of the herein described process or the fixation of nitrogen with hydrogen per se, or hydrogen compounds, or compositions, be they of amstopped, and the contents of'the vessel 1,,

moniacal, azoical, di-azoical, or other form or character of nitrogen-hydrogen containing compounds, be they simple, compound, complex, or polymeric in nature, or in which the nitrogen may exist in combination at hydrogen ammonide, or ammonium amal- The formation of ammoniacal compounds or compositions, in accordance with this process, may be carried on under reduced, or increased pressure, or both, and by the action of heat or refrigeration and the energy supplied to cause the union of the elements or substances to produce the prodnot desired, may be derived from a source of heat, light, electricity, radio-activity, or other form, without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

It should be noted that an atmosphere of hydrogen containing nitrogen enough to .form ammonium, is of such low density as 'to be looked upon, or produce a condition which ordinarily results, when mercury is agitated in rarefied atmosphere, when such mercury is agitated with the lighter gases, such as nitrogen containing hydrogen largely in excess of volume, such as four volumes of hydrogen to one of nitrogen.

Instead of employing mercury, which is fluid at ordinary temperature, as a medium for supplying energy and forming compounds contalning nitrogen and hydrogen, I can employ molten metals, such as lead,

or alloys of selective melting point, such as fusible metal, without departing from the spirit or scope of myainvention.

I have found it of advanta e to augment the process of synthetically orming nitrogen-hydrogen-containing compounds from their elements, or substances containing the same in a yielding condition, as hereinbefore described, by exposing the combining or reacting substances to,-or associating the I same with, water, either as liquid, vapor or steam, or under conditions capable of producing a like state, whereby the formation and union of the nitrogen-hydrogen-containing compound or compounds, in, with, or through the associated combinable fluid, and

'its dissociation and decompositiom'or evolution, is enhanced, and its recovery in a free, or utilizable condition, facilitated. The nitrogen-hydrogen compound thus obtained,

in gaseous or other form, can then be secured in the form of suitable 'salts or compounds by combining the same with suit able acids, solvents, or neutralizing agents, which neutralizing agents may be alkaline in some cases, where the nitrogen-hydrogencontaining compound obtained is of more or less acid character, such as azoic, hydrocyanic acid, etc.

It should be noted, that the agitation of ,nitrogen and hydrogen with the associated fluids, or other substances as set forth, during the period of supplying energy to the ingredients, for the purpose of causing the combination of nitrogen and hydrogen, results in a fluctuating pressure on, in, and through the ingredients, and on, in, and

through the nitrogen and hydrogen being acted upon'by the supplied energy, thereby facilitating the union of nitrogen and hydrogen and the formation of ammonia, through the thorough mixing and dividing of the ingredients, resulting in a complete association thereof, together with a greater percentage of conversion, in less time, and with less supplied energy than is required in an ordinary mobile state, or under ordinary and uniform atmospheric pressure; the

minute segregation of the particles of themore resistant nitrogen and} hydrogen fluids, 1n and throughout the other fluids associated therewith, reducing the mass resistance to the energy supplied thereby more readily diifusing the supplied energy throughout the same, and also resulting in a more or less energized or electrified condition induced by internal friction of'the ingredients agitated, thus augmenting the action of the energy supplied.

Having now described my invention what I claim is za 1. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplyi-ng energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under fluctuating pressure in the presence of a substance capable ofuniting with ammonia.

2. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under fluctuating pressure in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance.

3. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under other than atmospheric pressure and in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia.

4. Process of" making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under other than atmospheric pressure and in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance. l

5. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action'of a contact substance.

7 Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence of mercury.

8. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence, of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact'substance.

9. Process of. making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while in the presence of a sub stance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the action of calcium.

10.'Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the action of calcium.

11. Process of making ammonia, which V comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while in the presence of mercury, and. augmenting the union by the action of calcium.

12. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplyingenergy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action of calcium.

13. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises agitating mercury with nitrogen and hydrogen.'

14. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises agitating mercury with nitrogen and hydrogen, and augmenting the unlon by the action of a contact substance.

15. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises agitating mercury with nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure.

16. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises, agitating mercur'y with nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance.

17..Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplyingenergyto nitrogen and hydrogen, while under fluctuating pressure in the presence .of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and au union by the action of electricity.

18. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under fluctuating pressure enting the I in the presence of a substance capable of unltlng with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance and electricity.

19. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under other than atmospheric pressure and in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia and augmenting the union by the action ofelectricity.

20. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and .hydrogen, while under other than atmospheric pressure and in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance and electricity.

21. Process of making ammonia, which comprises agitating substances capable of yielding nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting'the union by the action of electricity.

22. Process of making ammonia, which comprises agitating substances capable of yielding nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the action of a cont-act substance and electricity.

23. Process ofmaking ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises supplying energy to substances containing nitrogen and 100 hydrogen, in a yielding state, while in the presenceof mercury, and augmenting the union by the actionof electricity.

24. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises supplying en- 105 ergy to substances containing nitrogen and hydrogen, in a yielding state, while in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action of a and electricity.

25. Process of-making ammonla, or amcontact substance 7 1 10 "monia bases, which comprises supplying energy to substances containing nitrogen and hydrogen, in a yielding state, while under pressure and in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the actlon of electricity.

26. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises supplying energy to substances containing nitrogen and hydrogen, in a yielding state, While under pressure and in thepresence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the actlon of a contact substance and electricity. v

27. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the unlon by the action of electricity.

28. Process of making ammonia, whlch comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance and electricity.

29. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action of electricity.

30. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure and in the presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance andelectricity.

31. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen,wh1le in the presence of a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, and augmenting the union by the act-ion of calcium and electricity.

32. Processiof making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, While under pressure and in the presence of-a substance capable of uniting with ammonia, andaugmenting the union by the action of calcium and electricity.

33. Process of making ammonia, which comprises supplying energy to nitrogen and hydrogen, while in thepresence of mercury, and augmenting the'union by the action of calcium and electricity;

34. Process of making ammonia, \which presence of mercury, and augmenting the union by the action of calcium and electricity.

35. Process of making ammonia, or am-.

monia bases, which comprises agitating mercury with nitrogen and hydrogen, and augmenting the. union by the action of electricity.

36. Process of making ammonia, or, ammonia bases, which comprises agitating mercury with nitrogen and hydrogen, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance and electricity.

37. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which com rises agitating mercury with nitrogen and ydrogen, while under pressure, and augmenting the union by the action of electricity.

38. Process of making ammonia, or ammonia bases, which comprises agitating mercury with nitrogen and hydrogen, while under pressure, and augmenting the union by the action of a contact substance and electricity.

In testimony wliereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SPENCER BLAGKMORE. 

